We got inside an AH-1W Super Cobra, the world's first attack helicopter

Advertisement
We got inside an AH-1W Super Cobra, the world's first attack helicopter

cobra helicopter marines

Daniel Brown/Business Insider

Advertisement

One of the aircraft the Navy showed off at New York City Fleet Week in May was the AH-1W Super Cobra, the Marine Corps' first attack helicopter.

Based on the UH-1 Huey, the Super Cobra is the world's first attack helicopter.

The Super Cobra is used in close air support for Marines under fire and sometimes for coordinating artillery strikes, with pilots ordering the strikes from the air.

But the Super Cobra is being replaced with the AH-1Z Viper, the Corps' newest attack helicopter, and is expected to completely phased out by 2020.

Advertisement

Check it out below:

{{}}

Manufactured by Bell, the AH-1W Super Cobra was introduced to the Corps in 1986.

Manufactured by Bell, the AH-1W Super Cobra was introduced to the Corps in 1986.

Source: Military.com

It's nearly 14 feet tall.

It's nearly 14 feet tall.

Source: US Marine Corps

Advertisement

And 58 feet long.

And 58 feet long.

Powered by two General Electric T700-GE-401 engines, the Super Cobra has a maximum speed of about 169 mph and a maximum altitude of 18,700 feet.

Powered by two General Electric T700-GE-401 engines, the Super Cobra has a maximum speed of about 169 mph and a maximum altitude of 18,700 feet.

Source: US Marine Corps

Advertisement

Here's a close up of the exhaust.

Here's a close up of the exhaust.

It's also heavily armed.

It's also heavily armed.
Advertisement

It has two external wing stations on each side, which carry 2.75-inch to 5-inch rockets and a variety of precision-guided missiles, such as TOWs, Hellfires, Sidewinders, or Sidearms.

It has two external wing stations on each side, which carry 2.75-inch to 5-inch rockets and a variety of precision-guided missiles, such as TOWs, Hellfires, Sidewinders, or Sidearms.

Source: US Marine Corps

It's also armed with a 20 mm turreted cannon, seen below.

It's also armed with a 20 mm turreted cannon, seen below.
Advertisement

Here's a shot from the side.

Here's a shot from the side.

We then jumped in the back cockpit, seen below. The Super Cobra is rather old and doesn't have digital displays.

We then jumped in the back cockpit, seen below. The Super Cobra is rather old and doesn't have digital displays.

The Super Cobra is operated by two pilots in two separate cockpits, much like the Army's Apache. While both cockpits can fly the helicopter and fire the weapons, the back one is suited more for flying while the front is gear toward weapons control.

Advertisement

But kids visiting the helicopter seemed rather jealous when they saw us get into the back cockpit, as no one else was actually allowed to get in. So we asked one of the pilots to jump in the front and take a picture for us.

But kids visiting the helicopter seemed rather jealous when they saw us get into the back cockpit, as no one else was actually allowed to get in. So we asked one of the pilots to jump in the front and take a picture for us.

As you can see, the front cockpit is a little different than the back — especially the binocular sight.

As you can see, the front cockpit is a little different than the back — especially the binocular sight.
Advertisement

The pilot uses the binocular sight to operate the Night Targeting System, seen below, which detects and tracks targets, designating them and determining ranges.

The pilot uses the binocular sight to operate the Night Targeting System, seen below, which detects and tracks targets, designating them and determining ranges.

Source: Globalsecurity.org

The Corps currently has 87 Super Cobras, but they're expected to be completely replaced by the Viper by 2020.

The Corps currently has 87 Super Cobras, but they're expected to be completely replaced by the Viper by 2020.

Source: US Naval Air Systems Command

Advertisement
Next StoryA retiring Chinese general revealed that China's greatest military weakness is a US strength